The End is Near

Chapter Ten

~Keith's POV~
It's been days and there's no sign of Cassie anywhere. I don't even know if we're going in the right direction. I sigh as I look over at Karson, who looks as discouraged as I do. I smile weakly at him.
"We'll find her. We have to. She's strong, she can survive on her own." Karson nods, trying to convince himself it's true. I look back at the road we've been traveling down for days. We are just passing through a small town, cautiously looking for any threat as we walk through.
It's been almost a day and a half since we passed through that town when I hear the loud noise of an engine. Someone is driving our way, fast. I nudge Karson and we duck down, covered by a shrub of bushes. We wait tensely for a minute, then the car comes into view, I see who's driving as it passes by and my eyes widen. It's Cassie. Karson and I share a look, then start running after the car, always keeping it in sight. Cassie wouldn't go back to where she came from unless she was running from something, something bad, she's too focused on getting to Montana. She must be going back to one of the town we passed through. I run faster, determined not to lose her again.
I don't know how long it's been, but we've been running forever. She stopped in a small town and started running on foot, probably trying to make as little noise as possible. I caught sight of her a mile back, she was running as fast as she could, looking exhausted, but she kept going. Something really bad must be coming.
I finally get a little break to catch my breath when Cassie stops, looking around. She takes a little bit to catch her breath, I look over to Karson, who looks as exhausted as I feel. I motion for us to get closer and he nods, so I take a step forward, and step right on a branch, snapping it loudly in half. Cassie jumps and immediately starts running again. I sigh, looking over at Karson, then we start running again, always keeping Cassie in sight. We run for another ten minutes before we reach a small, seemingly deserted, town.
     Cassie finally stops running and walks around, looking for somewhere to stay. Karson and I slowly trail behind her, careful not to make any loud noises to scare her. She starts to walk towards a house, cautiously opening the door and walking in. I quietly walk up to a window and watch her walk around the house. I'm starting to think it's safe as she's about to walk into the kitchen. But then I hear the click of a gun and see the man behind her. I tense, trying not to run to her. I see her tense and tighten her grip on her knife.
    "Slowly put your weapon down and turn around." Cassie slowly kneels down and drops her knife, followed by her bow and arrows, then her katana, then she reaches behind her and pulls out a gun from the back of her pants, putting it on the pile of weapons. Shock flows through me, I never saw her get a gun at the dorms. She stands up and turns around, her face expressionless, almost cold. With Julia gone, she is no longer the happy, carefree Cassie I had first met in the commons room, she's changed. "What are you doing here?" He asks, still pointing his gun at her. She takes a deep breath, trying to keep the exhaustion she's feeling off of her face. But I can see it in her eyes. 

"I needed a place to sleep, I didn't think anyone was here." Her voice is strong, cold, no trace of any fear or exhaustion that I'm sure she's feeling. "I'll leave if you need me to." 

"How old are you?" He asks suddenly, her eyes widen.

"I'm nineteen." I answer, my eyes widen, she's a year younger than me. The mans eyes widen and he takes a closer look, seeming to just now realize how young she looks to him.

"Are you alone?" Her jaw clenches as she nods. "How long?"

"Almost the beginning." His eyes widen again.

"And you've survived on your own this whole time? How?" She raises am eyebrow, thinking. 

"I always keep my guard up, always watching, always listening. I have my weapons on me at all times and never travel in plain sight. If I need to rest or find a place for the night, I'll always make sure I find somewhere the walkers can't get to, but I can leave quickly if I have to. I always have enough supplies, I'll stop at any stores that seem safe and stock up on supplies." He looks impressed, as he should be.

"When do you sleep?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Do I look like I've had any sleep?" He laughs and shakes his head.

"No, if you weren't talking and moving around like you do, I would've taken you as a walker." I smirk.

"Yeah, I'm on my own, there's no time for sleep." She barely sleeps, sadly, only when her body forces her too. 

"Can I ask you a couple questions?" She nods. "How many walkers have you killed?"

"Too many to count." He nods.

"How many people have you killed?" She takes a deep breath, sadness clouding her eyes before they turn back to a cold, icy blue.

"Only one."

"Why?"

"Because she asked me to." 

"Was she who you were traveling with? What happened?" 

"She was bit." Sympathy fills his eyes and he nods in understanding.

"I'm sorry, that's a tough thing to go through, especially alone."

"I managed well enough." She replies, starting to look uncomfortable.

"Would you kill?" She looks at him, surprise in her eyes. I turn to Karson.

     "What do you think she's going to say?" I whisper almost unintelligibly. He shakes his head, shrugging.

     "I have no idea, she doesn't seem like the type of person to kill." I nod, turning back to hear her answer. 

"I wouldn't kill an innocent person. But if they deserve it, if they need to be killed in order to save people, then yes, I would kill." He nods. My eyes widen, she really has changed.

"Ok, I have one more question. Would you like to join my group?" I smile, hoping she says yes, she won't have to be alone anymore. She could have someone to be there for her.

"What?"

"I want you to join me with my group. You're a strong girl, you're smart, and you know how to live in this world. You could be a great help to us. Do you want to join us?" She stares at him for a minute, then nods. Relief floods through me, she won't be alone anymore. 

"Ok, I'll join you."

"That's good to hear. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to help some of the group members, they know nothing of fighting or surviving. And you seem to be an expert in those fields." She smirks, nodding.

"Sure, sounds like it'd be fun to whip them into shape." He laughs, nodding.

"I'm sure you won't be saying that when you meet them. My son is with us, and he doesn't even know how to use his gun." He sighs, shaking his head, annoyance clear on his face. Cassie raises an eyebrow.

"He doesn't know how to shoot a gun?" He sighs, shaking his head.

"Not at all. I always tried getting him into it, but he liked working on cars more." 

"I'll see what I can do then. How many are with you?" She ask, turning to look out the window, forcing us to duck down in order to be hidden.

"There are ten of us, counting me. Eleven now that your with us." He smiles. She nods, going to her weapons. She meets the mans shocked eyes as she straps her knife to her hip. "Wow, those are some amazing weapons you've got there. When did you get them?"

"I've had them since I was a little girl, my dad got them for me and taught me how to use them." She almost smiles, I see her lip twitch, but she pushes it down, clenching her jaw. I stare at her, confused. Why won't she let herself be happy?  "So when is the rest of the group going to show up? And I never got your name. I'm Cassie. " 

"They're actually coming right now. And I'm Walter. Get ready to meet your new family." Again, she almost smiles, but forced it down. What's wrong with her? Is it Julia? My eyes widen at the realization, she won't let herself be happy because of Julia.